From a city of 16 million to the quiet valleys of Simmental, Cüneyt Güneş didn’t move to Switzerland for adventure — he moved for love. Today, the Istanbul-born coach has become one of the most recognized figures in the Saanenland sports community. To many, he is simply “The Coach.”

A Radical Life Change

When Cüneyt Güneş arrived in Saanenland in January 2021, the world was in lockdown. Masks, distancing, closed doors. For someone coming from Istanbul — a city that never sleeps — the silence felt overwhelming.

“No traffic, no chaos… but also nowhere to go. Everything was closed,” he recalls. The first weeks were difficult. “Horrible,” he says honestly.

But he hadn’t moved on impulse. He came for his wife, Maira, a Swiss lawyer from the canton of Graubünden. The couple met in Istanbul while she was studying as an Erasmus student and Cüneyt was teaching kickboxing at the university campus. What began as a chance meeting became a relationship, then a shared life, and eventually marriage in Turkey.

Switzerland became the natural next step for their family — professionally and personally.

Building a Future from Zero

Their start in Switzerland was humble. They stayed in a small room at Maira’s sister’s home in Graubünden.

“I was shy. I would shower only when no one else was home,” Cüneyt says with a smile.

His path to Saanenland came through a job in the security sector, working for James Otigbah’s company in Saanen. The opportunity helped stabilize the young family — especially with their first daughter, Dileyla, just born.

To this day, Cüneyt continues working in security, particularly during high season. Night shifts, emergency interventions, chalet alarm calls — intense schedules with little sleep.

And then, in between, he trains.

“In winter, you work as much as you can,” he says. Sometimes he sleeps only a few hours before heading back to the dojo.

From Private Lessons to “Gstaad Kickboxing”

Cüneyt built his martial arts vision step by step.

First private sessions. Then small groups.
“At the beginning, 20 to 25 people came.”

Today, Gstaad Kickboxing has become a recognized academy in the valley.

Training includes:

• Boxing

• Kickboxing

• Muay Thai

Sessions are mainly conducted in English — and many children pick up vocabulary naturally during training. “Left, right,” he laughs.

While he understands German well, daily communication often happens in English. “I know I must learn more German. You must respect the language of the country you live in,” he says. Time, however, remains his biggest challenge.

A Bigger Vision: From Zero to Champion

Cüneyt’s ambition goes beyond running a club.

His goal is to build a true academy system:

“From zero to champion — and then they can become coaches themselves.”

Some of his senior students already assist him as trainers, including Alina, a young competitive athlete from his team who has achieved success in tournaments.

He is not building just fighters.
He is building leaders.

Giving Back: Free Training for Local Children

For the past three years, Cüneyt has offered free kickboxing training for children in the region — including equipment, gloves, T-shirts, and hoodies.

“I want to give something back to this region. If you receive something, you must also give.”

The initiative is partly funded by adult memberships. Even there, flexibility applies. If someone cannot afford full fees, they pay less — or nothing.

Cüneyt does not see members as customers. He sees them as family.

His Turkish generosity is unmistakable — even journalists leave interviews with gifted training jackets.

A Life Between Two Worlds

Today, the Güneş family lives in Zweisimmen. Their two daughters attend kindergarten and daycare there. At home, three languages mix naturally:

• German (with their mother)

• Turkish (with their father)

• English (between parents)

Cüneyt is open, energetic, and constantly positive.

“I’m a positive person. Social. Active.”

Anyone in Saanenland eventually meets him — through training sessions or through his work in security.
“Many people say hello. I don’t know all of them — but they know me.”

Istanbul Remains — But So Does the Valley

When he speaks of Istanbul, his eyes light up. He misses the food, the rhythm, the city that never sleeps.

“In Istanbul, you can eat 24 hours. Here, everything closes at seven or eight.”

Yet Switzerland has shaped him too. He appreciates the cleanliness, order, calm, and friendliness.

“People greet each other here. They seem happier.”

He visits Turkey regularly with his family — but after two weeks away, he already misses the valley.

Will he one day return permanently?

“As a Turk, I would like my final resting place to be in my homeland,” he says thoughtfully — “but hopefully that is still very far away.”

For now, his home is here.

And in Saanenland, everyone knows the Coach.